LYRA

We burst from the cave entrance into daylight that hurt my eyes after hours in darkness, the storm had passed while we were underground and left everything dripping with moisture. Behind us I heard the trolls reaching the tunnel entrance but stopping there, their heavy breathing echoing off stone as they watched us flee but didn't follow into the weak sunlight filtering through clouds.

I collapsed on wet ground outside the cave, my whole body shaking with exhaustion and leftover terror, ...